U.S. Renters May Not Be in Line for Home Ownership

By Staff
Tuesday, May 14, 2024 9:00 AM It’s possible that inflation would have gotten back to target quicker if the Fed had hiked sooner. If that happened, the central bank may not have needed to keep rates at the current high levels for so long.

Consumers Suffering From ‘Marketing Fatigue’

By Staff
Monday, May 13, 2024 11:00 AM Consumers are becoming increasingly selective about the marketing messages they receive, and brands must adapt accordingly. Consumers expect timely, relevant messages that help them during their shopping journey.

U.S. Job Growth Slowed in April

By Staff
Friday, May 10, 2024 9:00 AM From a bigger picture standpoint, you see a labor market that’s still pretty strong, pretty tight. This is a far, far cry from 2020 or 2009 or the outright weak labor markets we’ve seen over the past 15 or so years.

Most Internet Households Are Loyalty Members

By Staff
Thursday, May 9, 2024 10:57 AM Entertainment, convenience, resources, and discount/value are primary value propositions for subscription and membership services.

Consumers Expected to Spend Near-Record $33.5 Billion on Mother’s Day

By Staff
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 11:56 AM Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate the women who play a meaningful role in our lives. Retailers know the significant importance of this day and are ready to help their customers with a wide selection of meaningful gifts for loved ones to show their appreciation.

Consumer Confidence Took a Hit in April

By Staff
Tuesday, May 7, 2024 11:08 AM Consumers became less positive about the current labor market situation, and more concerned about future business conditions, job availability and income.

American Workers’ Pay Gains Growing Faster Than Expected

By Staff
Monday, May 6, 2024 12:01 PM This is really good news for the economy overall and for the resilience and strength of economic growth. This will keep real wage growth in the plus column for many workers and will put a floor under consumer spending and keep consumer spending resilient over the next several quarters at least.

Consumers Say Nothing Excuses a Bad Customer Experience

By Staff
Friday, May 3, 2024 3:10 PM Although 60 percent of consumers said they would ‘suffer through’ a bad customer experience rather than pay one or more paychecks to guarantee a good customer experience, 55 percent said that ‘nothing excuses a bad customer experience.’

Retailers Must Marry Privacy Concerns and Personalized Services

By Staff
Thursday, May 2, 2024 9:00 AM Retailers that proactively address privacy concerns while delivering on the promise of personalized services will not only be better positioned to comply and keep up with regulatory expectations but also differentiate themselves in the market.

Does AI Improve the Customer Experience?

By Staff
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 9:00 AM The power lies in AI's ability to analyze extensive data, allowing businesses to deliver tailored products or services based on individual preferences and interactions.

Elevated Mortgage Rates Can’t Slow New Home Sales

By Staff
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 9:00 AM The willingness of the major homebuilders to utilize incentives such as price reductions, mortgage rate buy-downs and paying buyers' closing costs continue to support a healthy pace of new home sales.

Retail Workers Say Their Tech Issues Are Being Ignored

By Staff
Monday, April 29, 2024 10:20 AM Increased consumer pressure, operational efficiency requirements, ongoing labor shortages and the advent of AI have required retailers to rethink how they attract, retain and motivate store associates.

How Strong Is the U.S. Dollar?

By Staff
Friday, April 26, 2024 11:46 AM For Americans, the purchasing power of the dollar is higher and consumption will remain strong.

How Is AI Shaping the Retail Industry?

By Staff
Thursday, April 25, 2024 9:31 AM Right now, AI is shaping the retail industry in various ways including hyper-personalization of customer experiences, automating tasks to maximize profitability and increasing employee satisfaction. Site search and recommendations is another area where AI is starting to have a huge impact.

U.S. Homes Sales Slumped in March

By Staff
Wednesday, April 24, 2024 10:08 AM Though rebounding from cyclical lows, home sales are stuck because interest rates have not made any major moves.